Small Town News

Buffalo Couple Injured in Serious Vehicle Accident

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A two-vehicle accident Friday afternoon left a Fairmount man dead and an out-of-town couple in critical condition.

Ronald B. Wallen Jr., 39, Fairmount, died at 3:25 p.m., according to Stephen Dorsey, Grant County coroner.

According to Sgt. Matt Swain of the Grant County Sheriff's Department, Wallen was in his green 1997 Chevrolet pickup truck traveling eastbound in the 3100 block of west Ind. 22.

Swain said a beige 2003 Buick Century driven by Bernard E. Eisert, 71, Buffalo, was traveling in the westbound lane. His wife, Mary E. Eisert, 66, was the vehicle's passenger.

"Our witness at the scene advised that Mr. Wallen was traveling eastbound in the westbound lane," Swain said.

That witness said Eisert crossed the center line to try to avoid Wallen, just as Wallen crossed back into his correct lane. The vehicles then collided head-on, Swain said.

Wallen was not wearing his seatbelt, Swain said. He said the driver was partially ejected from the vehicle and killed immediately.

The Eiserts were both semiconscious and unresponsive at the scene, Swain said. They were taken by ambulance to Marion General Hospital.

Swain said Bernard Eisert was later transported to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. He suffered a severed aorta and some bleeding on the brain. His lungs are also bruised. He has a broken leg and one hip is broke with the possibility of the other being fractured.

"He's in extremely critical condition," Swain said late Friday.

Mary Eisert remained at Marion General Hospital on Friday night, where she was still in critical condition.

She has broken ribs, both femurs are broke and possibly a broken leg below the knee.

A helicopter was unable to be utilized to transport the couple to the hospital because of the rainy, cloudy weather.

Dorsey said the cause of death for Wallen was multiple blunt force head trauma.

Swain said he's unsure what caused Wallen to drive left of center, but Dorsey is investigating tablets that were found in Wallen's pocket.

Swain said there was no immediate evidence of alcohol or narcotics at the scene. He didn't believe speed was a factor in the crash, and there were no skid marks on the road in that area, he said. The speed limit on that section of road is 55 miles per hour.

Gas City Fire Rescue and the Fairmount Volunteer Fire Department assisted the Grant



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© 2009 The News & Review Monon, Indiana. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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